The State Commissioners Authority of the Constitutional Court postponed on Sunday another appeal by the government against a previous court decision that ruled on the annulment of the Egyptian-Saudi maritime demarcation agreement until the issuing of a legal report over the constitutionality of the agreement.
The session witnessed closing statements for both sides, which requested the commissioners’ report.
On 16 January, the Administrative Court rejected the government’s appeal against its previous verdict that had nullified the agreement, confirming Egyptian sovereignty over the islands.
In this appeal, opposing lawyers urged the court to reject the appeal, as the Administrative Court had already resolved the issue and in accordance with Constitutional Article 151, which bans ceding any part of the state’s territory.
The Constitutional Court is expected in this appeal to decide which entity is authorised to look into such agreements, whether the executive or the judiciary. This is the government’s third appeal against the Administrative Court ruling.
On 8 April, the government concluded the demarcation deal that sought to transfer the sovereignty of the islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia during an official visit by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
